Nats Seek Revenge On Harvey In New York Opener

By nearly all statistical measures, Matt Harvey has been the NL’s best starting pitcher this season. He leads the league in ERA (2.08), strikeouts (121), hits per nine innings (5.9), and opponent batting average/OBP/slugging (.188/.236/.255). He has faced the Nats once this season, allowing one run over seven innings in a 7-1 Mets win. During that game, New York fans famously chanted “HAR-VEY’S BET-TER!” when the Mets scored four runs (two earned) off Stephen Strasburg. While Harvey has been stellar, the Nationals are certainly out for vengeance, and can certainly take advantage of Harvey’s weakness: the team around him. The Mets are just 2-3 in Harvey’s last five starts, including an outing in which he allowed four runs on ten hits in just five innings to the hapless Marlins, who are last in baseball in runs scored. He has seemed somewhat more vulnerable of laste, but for the Nationals to have a shot tonight, they will need a return to form from Ross Detwiler. He had a 2.76 ERA before going on the DL, but has allowed 14 runs in 14.2 innings over three starts since returning. If he can get back to being the pitcher he was in April and May, the Nationals have a good shot of keeping this game close, and perhaps winning it against the Mets’ struggling bullpen. Here are tonight’s lineups:

Jun 27, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Jeff Kobernus (26) beats the tag of Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Didi Gregorius (1) to steal second base during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Washington

Denard Span CF

Anthony Rendon 2B

Ryan Zimmerman 3B

Jayson Werth RF

Adam LaRoche 1B

Ian Desmond SS

Roger Bernadina LF

Kurt Suzuki C

Detwiler LHP

New York

Eric Young, Jr. LF